But professional sex therapist, Catherine Novac believes it can be like a life preserver thrown to those in a serious situation, to hold on to and bring back safely, helping deal with suffering or embarrassment.

“I try to view it from their perspective,” she said. “My goal is to have someone understand themselves and understand the reasoning and significance of their behaviour.”

Novac, 43, is a sexologist and psychotherapist from Montreal working out of two clinics on the West Island for the last 13 years.

This love doctor is passionate about her work and really empathizes with those seeking her advice as a therapist, treating issues from sexual orientation and gender identity to lack of self-esteem or performance anxiety.

“I feel that I provide a service that’s helpful, one person at a time, providing hope and compassion,” Novac said.

Taking into account the needs and demands of anyone seeking aid or support in their sex life, her therapeutic approach is not to have any preconceived notions because her clients are mostly ordinary men and women, adults and teenagers.

“It’s not either a gender or cultural specific issue. The youngest I’ve seen is 13 and the oldest client was 72,” she said. “I’ve seen a 19-year-old boy and a 60-year-old man with similar problems.”

Novac’s career has taken her from graduate studies at the Université de Québec à Montréal in 1996 to teaching today’s students at UQAM about the joys of working in a field that’s given her so much.

“My profession has been able to offer me a diverse range of opportunities, from sex education to a radio show to teaching to a private practice,” she said. “There aren’t too many jobs right now that offer all these opportunities.”

With her success and most recent endeavours, Novac jokes that her kids still find it awkward when asked by friends what their mom does for work.

“My kids know what I do and they giggle. Of course they tell their friends that I’m a therapist,” she said.

The next step in Novac’s career progression is setting up her practice at Montreal’s new MDCM medical clinic opening this spring at 5515 Rue St. Jacques in NDG. She plans on taking new clients from the city, offering her services to couples and individuals concerned about their sex lives.

“Right now I’m just working on having my practice grow. I’m actually quite content at the moment. I’ve got a lot going on, it’s very fulfilling,” she said.

Novac believes that both men and women, old and young, can benefit from a sex therapy session. Her unique approach and perspective has helped many over the years rekindle that lost flame.

“I think that it’s important to enjoy what you do, to get some kind of sense of accomplishment from feeling that, at that time, on that day, at that hour, you were able to be there for someone who needed you.”

Starting next week, sexologist and psychotherapist Catherine Novac will be writing a biweekly sex column for The Monitor, the West Island Chronicle and the Westmount Examiner websites, entitled “SeX Files”. The column will be exploring all aspects of sexuality and sexual dusfunction. Readers are encouraged to email any questions and/or column suggestions they may have to Catherine at catherinenovac@videotron.ca